National Assembly of Azerbaijan
Encyclopedia
The National Assembly also transliterated as Milli Majlis is the legislative branch of government in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...

. The unicameral National Assembly has 125 deputies: previously 100 members were elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies and 25 were members elected by proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...

; as of the latest election, however, all 125 deputies are returned from single-member constituencies. Milli Majlis was the first secular republican
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...

 parliament in the Muslim world.

Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920)

Following the Russian Revolution in February of 1917, a special committee consisting of deputees from Transcaucasian State Duma was created. In November, Transcaucasian Commissariat
Transcaucasian Commissariat
The Transcaucasian Commissariat was established at Tbilisi on November 11, 1917, as the first government of the independent Transcaucasia and following the Bolshevik seizure of power in St...

 was created as the first government of independent Transcaucasia. The Sejm made up from representatives of three nations did not have a solid political platform as each nation looked after its own interests. This subsequently led to dissolution of the Sejm on May 25, 1918.

On May 27, 44 Muslim deputees of the Sejm gathered in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...

 and established Azerbaijan National Council to form the government of Azerbaijan. Mammad Emin Rasulzade was elected its chairman. On May 28, the National Council passed a resolution proclaiming independence of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first successful attempt to establish a democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world . The ADR was founded on May 28, 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917 by Azerbaijani National Council in...

. On June 16, the National Council and the Azerbaijani government moved to Ganja
Ganja, Azerbaijan
Ganja is Azerbaijan's second-largest city with a population of around 313,300. It was named Yelizavetpol in the Russian Empire period. The city regained its original name—Ganja—from 1920–1935 during the first part of its incorporation into the Soviet Union. However, its name was changed again and...

. At the seventh session of the council in Ganja chaired by Mammad Emin Rasulzade, it was decided to dissolve the council and transfer all legislative and executive power to the interim government of Azerbaijan headed by Fatali Khan Khoyski
Fatali Khan Khoyski
Fatali Khan Khoyski Isgender oglu was an attorney, a member of the Second State Duma of the Russian Empire, Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Defense and, later the first Prime Minister of the independent Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.-Early life:Khoyski was born on December 7, 1875 in...

. Once the government was established, Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani language
Azerbaijani or Azeri or Torki is a language belonging to the Turkic language family, spoken in southwestern Asia by the Azerbaijani people, primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran...

 was made the official state language. One of the priorities of the government before moving to Baku was to liberate Baku from Centrocaspian Dictatorship
Centrocaspian Dictatorship
The Central-Caspian Dictatorship , or the Centro-Caspian Dictatorship, was a short-lived anti-Soviet client state proclaimed in Baku, the capital of present-day Azerbaijan, during World War I...

 then in control of the city which took place on September 15, 1918. On November 16 when the National Council reconvenes and on November 19, Rasulzade announces that all nationalities of Azerbaijan will be represented in the Azerbaijani Parliament to consist of 120 deputees.

Therefore, basing on 24 thousand representatives of nationalities of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani parliament made up from 80 Muslims, 21 Armenians, 10 Russians, 1 German and 1 Jew was established on November 29 and convened on December 7, 1918. Thus, the first session of the parliament took place in the building of former Zeynalabdin Tagiyev Russian Muslim School located on present day Istiglaliyyat Street
Istiglaliyyat Street
Istiglaliyyat Street is an arterial road in central uptown part of Baku, Azerbaijan. It begins at Gulustan Palace located on the southern hillside part of Baku continues north, then northeast, terminating at intersection of Aziz Aliyev and Mammad Amin Rasulzade streets at the edge of the...

 of Baku and was chaired by Rasulzade. Alimardan Topchubashov was elected the Speaker of the Parliament, Hasanbey Agayev - Deputy Speaker.
By the end of 1919, there were 11 various political party factions in the parliament represented by 96 deputees. During its 17-month existence, the parliament held 145 sessions with the last session being convened on April 27, 1920 on the eve of Russian occupation of Azerbaijan. A total of 270 resolutions were sponsored, 230 of which were passed. Parliamentary delegations of Azerbaijan signed several friendship treaties with Turkey, Iran, Great Britain, and US and a defense pact with Georgia; attended Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...

 several times requesting recognition from Western countries. In January 1920, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was de facto recognized by the Peace Conference.

Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR

During the last session of Azerbaijani Parliament on April 27, 1920 under pressure of the Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....

 Russian 11th Red Army and ultimatum from Caucasian Committee of the Russian Communist Party which invaded Azerbaijan, the deputees decided to release the government to the Bolsheviks to avoid bloodshed.
Once the Bolsheviks took over, they abolished all structures of the Azerbaijani government and established the Azerbaijan Interim Revolutionary Committee administered by Azerbaijani communists Nariman Narimanov
Nariman Narimanov
Narimanov Nariman Karbalayi Najaf oglu was an Azerbaijani revolutionary, writer, publicist, politician and statesman. In 1920, Narimanov headed the Soviet government of Azerbaijan, the Provisional Military-Revolutionary Committee , replacing Mirza Davud Huseynov, then he was the Chairman of the...

, Aliheydar Garayev
Aliheydar Garayev
Aliheydar Garayev Agakerim oglu also spelled as Aliheydar Qarayev, was a Bolshevik revolutionary, People's Commissar of Justice of Azerbaijan SSR, People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of Azerbaijan after occupation of Azerbaijan by 11th Red Army on April 28, 1920.-Early life:Garayev...

, Gazanfar Musabekov
Gazanfar Musabekov
Gazanfar Mahmud oglu Musabekov or Musabeyov was an Azerbaijani Bolshevik revolutionary and Soviet statesman. He was Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of Azerbaijan SSR from 1929 to 1931 and he headed the government of the Transcaucasian SFSR from 1931 to 1936...

, Hamid Sultanov, Dadash Bunyadzade. Bolsheviks dissolved the Azerbaijani Army, executed its generals and officers, nationalized the private industries.

In May 1921, the first All-Azerbaijan Soviet Session made up of newly elected deputees from all regions of Azerbaijan convened in Baku. The elected deputees were mainly the poor, uneducated, unprepared factory workers and villager which facilitated complete rule from Moscow. The first session established Azerbaijan Central Executive Committee consisting of 75 members and its board with 13 members. From 1921 through 1937, nine sessions of All-Azerbaijan Soviets were convened.
In 1937, during the 9th session of the All-Azerbaijani Soviets new Azerbaijan SSR Constitution was ratified and the new legislative body Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR was established.

The first elections to Supreme Soviet took place on June 24, 1938. Out of 310 deputees elected, 107 were workers, 88 collective farmers
Collective farming
Collective farming and communal farming are types of agricultural production in which the holdings of several farmers are run as a joint enterprise...

, 115 educated civil servants. Seventy two of the deputees were women. Due to authoritarian nature of Soviet rule where most new initiatives were met as conspiracies against the state, the parliament was virtually ineffective.
Due to multiple reforms and restructuring in the government of Azerbaijan SSR in 1970's-1980's, the role of the Supreme Soviet increase. Many legislative reforms including the ratification of the new Azerbaijan SSR Constitution of 1977 took place. After the demands of Armenian SSR to transfer the NKAO
Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was an autonomous oblast within the borders of the Azerbaijan SSR, mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and created on July 7, 1923. According to Karl R. DeRouen it was created as an enclave so that a narrow strip of land would separate it from Armenia proper....

 region of Azerbaijan to Armenia, the parliament was largely passive and indifferent.
On October 1918, 1991 the Supreme Soviet passed a resolution confirming the restoration of independence of Azerbaijan.

Parliament of Republic of Azerbaijan

The first Azerbaijani parliamentary election
Azerbaijani parliamentary election, 1990
The first multi-party elections in Azerbaijan took place on 30 September and 14 October 1990 for the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR.-Results:- References :*...

 was held in late 1990 when the Supreme Soviet already held discussions on independence of Azerbaijan from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

. The 1995 Parliamentary election was the first to be held after restoration of independence of Azerbaijan.

The assembly is headed by its Speaker
Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan
The Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan Republic , also called Chairman of the National Assembly is the Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament. The current Speaker is Ogtay Asadov...

 assisted by the First Deputy Speaker and two deputy speakers. Ogtay Asadov
Ogtay Asadov
Ogtay Asadov Sabir oglu is an Azerbaijani politician serving as the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.-Ealy life:Asadov was born in the Shaharjik village of Qafan Rayon of Armenia. He graduated from the Machinery Manufacturing Technologies Department of Azerbaijan State Oil Academy...

 is the current speaker of the assembly, Ziyafet Asgarov
Ziyafet Asgarov
Ziyafet Asgarov Abbas oglu is a professor and an Azerbaijani politician serving as the First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.-Ealy life:...

 is the First Deputy Speaker and, Bahar Muradova and Valeh Alasgarov are deputy speakers. The work at the parliament is administered by the Parliament Apparatus headed by Sefa Mirzayev, aided by Assistant Manager Elkhan Ahmadov. The Parliament Apparatus is subdivided into Department of State Roster for Territorial Units and Municipalities, and Codification Sector Department.
In the latest 2010 parliamentary elections
Azerbaijani parliamentary election, 2010
A parliamentary election was held in Azerbaijan on 7 November 2010.-Candidates:The registration of candidates ends October 15 when the campaign period ends...

, the ruling New Azerbaijan Party
New Azerbaijan Party
The New Azerbaijan Party is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. It was formed on 18 December 1992 by the former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who led it until his retirement and death in 2003...

 strengthened its grasp on the legislature. President Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...

's ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party
New Azerbaijan Party
The New Azerbaijan Party is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. It was formed on 18 December 1992 by the former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who led it until his retirement and death in 2003...

 got a majority of 73 out of 125 seats. The other seats went to nominally independent, government-leaning candidates, and to "soft opposition" parties. The two major opposition parties (Musavat and the Parties of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan) lost their previous 8 seats, thus resulting in an opposition-free Parliament.

The Central Election Commission said turnout was 50.1 %, out of a total 4.9 million people eligible to vote. Opposition leaders suggested the low turnout was due to candidate disqualifications by the CEC, and consequent discouragements to vote after their choice of candidate was excluded.

The United States declared that the elections "did not meet international standards", while the OSCE, EU and Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...

 highlighted some positive aspects, while stating that "the conduct of the elections did not represent significant progress in the process of the country’s democratic development".
The parliament contains 11 paliamentary committees:
  • Legal Policies and State Structuring Committee, chaired by MP
    Member of Parliament
    A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

     Ali Huseynov
  • Defense and Security Committee, chaired by MP Ziyafet Asgarov
    Ziyafet Asgarov
    Ziyafet Asgarov Abbas oglu is a professor and an Azerbaijani politician serving as the First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.-Ealy life:...

  • Economimic Policies Committee, chaired by MP Ziyad Samadzade
  • Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology, chaired by MP Valeh Alasgarov
  • Committee on Agrarian Policies, chaired by MP Eldar Ibrahimov
  • Social Policies Committee, chaired by MP Hadi Rajabli
  • Committee on Regional Issues, chaired by MP Arif Rahimzade
  • Committee on Science and Education, chaired by MP Shamsaddin Hajiyev
  • Committee on Cultural Issues, chaired by MP Nizami Jafarov
  • International and Interparliamentary Relations Committee, chaired by MP Samad Seyidov
    Samad Seyidov
    Samad Seyidov Ismayil oglu is a professor and an Azerbaijani politician who serves as the Member of National Assembly of Azerbaijan from the 36th Khatai electoral district.-Early life:...

  • Human Rights Committee, chaired by MP Rabiyyat Aslanova

In addition to the parliamentary committees, Milli Majlis has a Chamber of Accounting and Toponyms Commission. The parliament publishes its own newspaper Azərbaycan qəzeti
Azerbaijan (newspaper)
The Azerbaijan is a state-owned newspaper published by the National Assembly of Azerbaijan....

(Azerbaijan newspaper) widely distributed around the country.

Chairmen of the National Assembly
Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan
The Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan Republic , also called Chairman of the National Assembly is the Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament. The current Speaker is Ogtay Asadov...

 (Supreme Soviet to 1991, National Council 1991–1992) of Azerbaijan

  • Elmira Gafarova
    Elmira Gafarova
    Elmira Mikayil qizi Gafarova , also spelled as Elmira Qafarova was an Azerbaijani politician and diplomat.-Early life:Gafarova was born on March 1, 1934 in Baku, Azerbaijan. In 1952, she completed her secondary education and was admitted to Azerbaijan State University in 1953...

     February 5, 1991–March 5, 1992.
  • Yagub Mammadov March 5, 1992–May 18, 1992
  • Isa Gambar
    Isa Gambar
    Isa Yunis oglu Qambar , also known as Isa Gambar or Isa Qambar , is an Azerbaijani politician and leader of Equality Party , the largest opposition block in Azerbaijan.-Biography details:...

     May 18, 1992–June 13, 1993
  • Heydar Aliyev
    Heydar Aliyev
    Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...

     June 24, 1993–November 5, 1993
  • Rasul Guliyev
    Rasul Guliyev
    -Early years:Guliyev was born on December 10, 1947 in the Gazanchy village of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. After completing his secondary education in 1965, he entered the Chemistry-Technology faculty of the Oil And Chemistry Institute of Azerbaijan, graduating in 1970 and...

     November 1993–November 24, 1995
  • Rasul Guliyev
    Rasul Guliyev
    -Early years:Guliyev was born on December 10, 1947 in the Gazanchy village of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. After completing his secondary education in 1965, he entered the Chemistry-Technology faculty of the Oil And Chemistry Institute of Azerbaijan, graduating in 1970 and...

     November 24, 1995–September 11, 1996
  • Murtuz Alasgarov
    Murtuz Alasgarov
    Murtuz Alasgarov Najaf oglu , also spelled as Murtuz Aleskerov, is an Azerbaijani politician who served as the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.-Ealy life:...

     October 16, 1996–November 24, 2000
  • Murtuz Alasgarov
    Murtuz Alasgarov
    Murtuz Alasgarov Najaf oglu , also spelled as Murtuz Aleskerov, is an Azerbaijani politician who served as the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.-Ealy life:...

     November 24, 2000–2005
  • Ogtay Asadov
    Ogtay Asadov
    Ogtay Asadov Sabir oglu is an Azerbaijani politician serving as the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.-Ealy life:Asadov was born in the Shaharjik village of Qafan Rayon of Armenia. He graduated from the Machinery Manufacturing Technologies Department of Azerbaijan State Oil Academy...

     - December 2, 2005–November 29, 2010
  • Ogtay Asadov - November 29, 2010–Present

See also

  • Government of Azerbaijan
  • Cabinet of Azerbaijan
    Cabinet of Azerbaijan
    The Cabinet of Azerbaijan is the chief executive body of the Republic of Azerbaijan.-The Executive Power:The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state....

  • Azerbaijani parliamentary election, 2010
    Azerbaijani parliamentary election, 2010
    A parliamentary election was held in Azerbaijan on 7 November 2010.-Candidates:The registration of candidates ends October 15 when the campaign period ends...


External links

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